"We wanted to get your report on what's going on in Falmuth..." Rimuru trailed off as Diablo seemed bewildered by the change in Rimuru's tone and noticed he was more worried about something else. "But it looks like today's audience might be the toughest. I mean, it's with..." Rimuru trailed off as the scenery changed back to the ceremony stage where you were all gathered and watched as Benimaru and Mai led the final group to meet with you, and intense looking escort, and their envoy in the middle seemed sharp and fierce despite her physical stature. "...the Tengu clan." Rimuru said as you all watched the envoy of the Tengu clan approach.

"My Lord. I've returned with Benimaru and the envoy of the Tengu clan. Her name is Momiji." Mai communicated to you with Thought Communication as you examined the young girl closely.

"She looks young. She doesn't look a day over 15, but this world's full of elders who look like they're in their twenties, so I shouldn't guess anything about her." You thought as you all watched her walk up the steps and stand in front of Rimuru while her escorts awaited behind her. "How were things on your end when you went to visit them?" You asked Mai.

"Well..." Mai trailed off with her thoughts as she remembered her first encounter with the Tengu clan.

Flashback, 1 Month Ago

Mai was accompanying Benimaru and Albis on a journey up the Kusha Mountains where they would make contact and begin to try and establish friendly ties with the Tengu clan that ruled over the skies above the land. Benimaru led the group as Albis and Mai followed behind him and a few members handpicked from the Red Numbers were chosen as an escort party to increase numbers for better security. The group hiked up the tall mountain where the clouds flowed around their ankles and visibility was slightly obstructed, stepping across stone and patches of dirt as they neared the summit. Once they had climbed high enough, Benimaru came to a stop when he noticed a perculiar structure at the summit with an strange haze around two stone pillars.

"That must be it." Benimaru muttered as he and the two girls stared at it with intriguement.

"There appears to be a barrier set up around it." Albis assumed from the feeling she had of the area.

"Please wait." Mai said as she stepped forward.

Stepping forward, Mai extended out her hands and closed her eyes as her antenna's began to slowly flash a rainbow color over and over as she tried assessing what was ahead. Albis and Benimaru patiently waited for her findings as the Mothra girl's antennas stopped glowing and she opened her eyes.

"Come up with anything?" Benimaru asked as Mai lowered her hands.

"I'm detecting the use of spatial magic around that area. I also detected the presence of a single individual watching guard from the stone on our right. I advise we do not turn our attention to him at this moment as I sense no malicious intent, rather the feeling of guarding this place." Mai explained as she turned to Benimaru. "Shall we proceed?" She asked him.

"Yes." Benimaru said as he took point once again as everyone else followed after him, but the individual Mai spoke of was quick to act as with only a single step forward, they took action.

"Halt!" A man's voice called out as everyone turned to the stone Mai mentioned and watched as a masked man with wings and other animal-like features leaped out and landed in their path.

"I sense an understanding of the martial arts." Benimaru thought as the main stood up and gave them a good look of himself.

"Beyond here lies the Tengu's hidden village. State your business." The guard demanded in a calm and composed tone.

"We've come as a proxy for Demon Lord Rimuru of Tempest." Benimaru explained the reasonings for their journey up the Tengu's mountain as Mai stepped next to him as the other envoy.

"We have no intention of causing your clan any trouble or disrupting your way of life during our visit. We simply wish to have an audience with an official of your clan and discuss some matters in regards to the location of your home." Mai said as she bowed her head respectfully and the guard took a moment to choose what he should do.

"...The three of you may pass." The guard said while turning around as Benimaru, Albis, and Mai followed after him in and disappeared into the looming cloud ahead while the rest of their group remained outside.

Walking through the hazy cloud, the guard led them through and all four of them reached the other side of the haze within moments where beautiful pink sakura petals met them, and the haze cleared to reveal an amazing village in front of their eyes as they had fully passed through the spatial barrier and entered the Tengu clan's home.

"Goodness..." Benimaru said in amazement.

"So beautiful..." Mai couldn't hold back the sparkle in her eyes as slowly spun around to take in the amazing sight.

"So their 'hidden village' was in a separate dimension? No wonder it can't be found." Albis said as she was also stunned by the sight of their home.

"This way." The guard said as he led them down the path ahead, and eventually the three of them found themselves in a home to a high ranking member of their clan. 

Mai and Albis were given soft cushions to use under their knees as they sat down seiza style on a wooden floor as the sliding screen door on their left was open to let air and sunshine into the room. It was a very empty room with only tall candle posts in each corner, and a small shrine decoration built into the right side wall they faced. In front of them were four Tengu clan guards and a young girl who was sat on her knees in the center while Benimaru sat across from her. Knowing of the tendencies and behaviors the Tengu clan were capable of, Benimaru knew how important this meeting was as he held a serious and determined look in his eyes.

"We can't let our guard down. They are as capable as Carrion, if not more so." Benimaru thought as he met eye to eye with the young girl in front of him.

"Now, envoy, what is your business here? Do you endeavor to seize control of this land?" The girl asked in a stern voice as Albis was not fond of the way she addressed Benimaru and furrowed her brow while Mai and the Red Oni remained stoic.

"We have no such intentions. We only seek permission to pass through the Kusha Mountains. And, if possible, we would like permission to build a tunnel through them." Benimaru explained as the girl scoffed and lifted her brow to cover her lower face while closing one eye demeaningly.

"Hmph. You have no territorial ambitions, then? If you wish to pass through, you need no permission, but what is this 'tunnel' you speak of?" The girl asked as Mai raised her hand slightly before speaking, catching the girl's attention.

"A tunnel is a path carved out of a mountain to allow easier and quicker use of transportation through mountainous terrain. That is what our Lord explained to us." Mai answered as the girl shut her fan closed upon hearing this information.

"Wait. Dig a hole through the mountains? Are you serious?" The girl asked in confusion of their plans.

"Yes, that's what the plan indicated. But that's unrelated to the route we wish to travel today. We only wanted confirmation with future travel routes in mind. If you're opposed, we won't force the issue." Benimaru said as he took into consideration their certain conflicting feelings about the tunnel.

"Digging a hole through our sacred mountains?" The guard on the girl's right said in wonder to his comrade on his side.

"Is that really acceptable?" The other guard responded as they seemed confused and put off on the idea.

"You displease me. Even if the slime did become a Demon Lord, we planned to let him do as he pleased, so long as he left us alone. We were even going to overlook that snake who reeks of beast." The girl said as Albis was in disbelief of what she said as the young representative of the Tengu stood up. "But we can't sit silently by while you belittle our sacred mountains." She spoke with a firm stance of denying the creation of the tunnel as Albis was quick to her feet.

"By 'snake who reeks of beast', are you reffring to me?" Albis asked as Mai was quick to her feet and stepped to Albis with a hand on her shoulder.

"Albis-sama, please refrain from escalating any more conflict." Mai urged with a pleading tone.

"Hey, cut it--!" Benimaru was about to order the two of them to stop, but Albis's pride took over as she unleashed a status effect attack on the young girl with her eyes as an ominous green aura surrounded her.

"A worthless parlor trick. Status abnormalities have no effect on the daughter of the Tengu elder." The young representative of the clan said with no care for her attack as she easily dispersed its effects.

"Daughter of the..." Mai trailed off as she stepped forward and bowed her head hastily to try and remedy the situation. "Lady Princess, please forgive us for such an unsightly display of--!" Mai couldn't finish as the young girl had already made her decision to intensify conflict.

The daughter of the Tengu elder brought forth another fan and opened them, waving them around as Mai sensed great strength building up within her before she dashed pass the Moth girl and attacked Albis. The serpent beauty was quick to block with her staff, but unable to avoid a follow up strike from her opponent's other fan that slammed into her stomach, sending her flying out of the room and onto the outside veranda as Albis slid across the wood floor on her feet. Backflipping off the veranda and onto the dirt of the garden behind her, Albis watched as the young and prideful Tengu princess walked out of the room and towards her with no worry in her eyes.

"We do not wish for any conflict between our sides. Is there nothing we can do to stop them?" Mai asked the guards.

"We can see your genuineness at glance. B-But when she gets like this, it's quite difficult to stop her...!" The guard said as they were unsure as well of what to do as Mai turned back to her other ally.

"Benimaru!" Mai looked to Benimaru with a pleading gaze as Benimaru nodded and granted her permission to do what needed to be done.

"Done already? I guess the Three Beastketeers aren't  such a big deal after all." The young princess said with a mocking tone while holding a stoic look.

"You don't want to underestimate me, bumpkin. I went easy on you because we're trying to negotiate with you, but perhaps there's no need for that?" Albis said as she was done trying to talk with such a hard-headed youngling.

"Went easy? That's my line. I'm actually being careful not to kill a mere envoy." The Tengu princess said as she was about to proceed with another attack, but something strange happened as glitters of dim lights slowly began spreading through their area. "W-What is this?" She said in confusion.

"This is...?" Albis muttered as she let one of the glitters of light land in her palm.

Within moments, the shoulders of both Albis and the Tengu princess slowly lowered and slumped as their hot-headed breaths also calmed down. A warm and fuzzy feeling overcame the Tengu girl as she lowered her fans and noticed that all her intention of dealing out punishment on Albis had suddenly vanished. The guards were stunned as they watched Mai step outside onto the Veranda as her wings were open and were the source of these stranges lights that affected the two fighters.

"No way...She's capable of applying a status abnormality even on someone like me?" The Tengu princess thought in shock as Mai gently wrapped her arms around her.

"Forgive me for my forwardness, princess. I simply do not wish for any ill feelings between our sides. Albis-sama is my friend, so I cannot accept ill things being said about the people I care about. We apologize for bring up such topics that make you and your clan uncomfortable and bring unpleasant feelings to you. Can you apologize for the things you said about my friend?" Mai asked in a soothing and gentle tone as the Tengu princess now had her head resting against Mai's bosom and her eyes were half closed from the gentle feeling that was wrapping around her.

"I'm sorry..." The Tengu princess apologized as Mai smiled while patting her gently on the head.

"In the end, she's still a young and inexperienced, innocent girl." Mai thought as Benimaru stepped out onto the veranda while Mai stopped using her skill, though the princess chose to remain in the arms of Mai for a bit longer.

"A skill that snuffs out all blood lust and ill intent from those in its vicinity. Impressive." Benimaru said as Mai just giggled innocently. "That's enough, then. As Mai-san just said, I apologize for causing unpleasant feelings, but I can't allow you to kill my companion." Benimaru said as even though Albis calmed down, she was left in disbelief and shock from hearing his words.

"S-Sir Benimaru? Are you saying I'd lose?!" Albis said in disbelief with a trembled voice.

"Yes. If I hadn't stopped her, she'd have cut you in two." Benimaru didn't mince his words as he knew Albis could take it, despite her current mental state, and Albis looked to Mai as she just shook her head, confirming his conclusion.

"Th-That's a lie! I held back!" The Tengu princess responded as she didn't believe his analysis as Mai unwrapped her arms from the young girl.

"No, you haven't mastered control over your aura. You were going to put too much strength into your attack. That's why Mai had to bring you two under control." Benimaru said as the Tengu girl turned to Mai as the Moth girl bowed her head with a sad look.

"Please forgive me, princess." Mai asked for forgiveness.

"N-No..." The Tengu girl muttered in disbelief of her own failure as she collapsed to her knees.

"I... would have lost?" Albis was left lost as she fell to her knees and dropped her staff in awe.

"You foolish girl!" A new voice suddenly yelled as the Tengu princess flinched in fear and everyone turned to see the guards resting on their knees in a respectful manner as the door on the other side of the room opened to reveal a new person had arrived, one that the girl was afraid of at this moment.

"M-Mother?!" The girl said in surprise of seeing her mother here as Benimaru and the other two got a good look at the woman who was the leader of the clan.

"Please forgive my daughter, Momiji. My name is Kaede. A pleasure to meet you, Sir Benimaru." The leader of the clan said with a gentle and more welcoming tone as she would take over this meeting moving forward as everyone took back their previous seating arrangements.

"Elder, you needn't put yourself out. We only wanted to pay our respects." Benimaru said with worry of making their leader do any form of work while being ill as Kaede sat next to her daughter with no worried look in her eyes at all.

"Ahahaha. Worry not, young man. That aside, I can already sense your swordsmanship is quite impressive. Haze style?" Kaede asked as Mai noticed a surprised look in Benimaru's eyes.

"How do you...No, I suspsected as much. Miss Momiji's dance resembled the movements of my style. Was that..." Benimaru's words trailed off as Kaede nodded in confirmation.

"Indeed. I learned the Haze style, as well...from my master, Byakuya Araki." Kaede revealed as both Benimaru and Albis were shocked, while Mai was aloof.

"Who is that, if I may ask?" Mai asked.

"Allow me to explain." Kaede said to Mai as the Moth girl nodded and listened closely while she spoke to the three of them. "A bit over three hundred years ago, I was staying in the Ogre Village to polish my sword skills. My master, Byakuya, had a grandson who was my senior disciple. He was a child of the sword who could only be describbed as a prodigy. 'Nothing vexes me more than being unable to give you a name.' Those were the words my master uttered most often. But Byakuya Araki was a human. If he carelessly named a member of a monster race, he could have lost his life. Eventually, Bakuya passed of old age, and the grandson he left behind became known as the Sword Savant." Kaede retold the story of her times in the past as one detail caught Benimaru's attention.

"Sword Savant?" Benimaru muttered as he tried to recollect where he heard that name before.

"I had fallen in love with his sword skills." Kaede said as she remembered the day she and her lover revealed their feelings for one another, and how they fell in love.

"Whoa, hang on a minute. Are you talking about Hakurou?" Benimaru asked as he felt that the man in the story and Hakurou were the same person.

"Huh? Seriously?" Mai gasped in shock.

"Oh? Hakurou, you say? I see. So the Sword Savant finally earned a name." Kaede said before a smile slowly curled on her lips as a longing look appeared in her eyes. "No, the greater surprise...is that he is still alive at all." She said in amusement before covering her mouth with her sleeved hand and laughing humorously at the irony of hers and Hakurou's situations.

"H-Hang on! Does Hakurou know about this?" Benimaru thought as this scenario was a bit much for him as he took a sip of his tea to try and calm his nerves.

"But this has put me at ease." Kaede spoke up as Benimaru stopped sipping his drink. "Because such a fine man raised by Sir Hakurou will become my daughter's husband." She said with such a bright smile on her face as Benimaru spat out his drink in shock and Mai put both hands to her face that was bright red and her wings fluttered rapidly.

"H-H-H-Huh?!?!? Husband?!" Mai gasped while looking back and forth between the Tengu princess and Benimaru.

"W-Wait, Mother!" Momiji blushed and was about to speak while she clammered towards her mother, but Kaede just held her back with one hand while she looked Benimaru eye to eye while he was recovering from such a shocking idea. 

"Now, Sir Benimaru. I shall accept every aspect of your previous proposal. We are willing to affiliate ourselves with Demon Lord Rimuru and your other leader, as well. But only if you agree to marry my daughter." Kaede gave Benimaru quite a predicament while Mai was surprised upon hearing a special detail in that sentence.

"Huh? You know of our other Lord?" Mai asked as Kaede turned to her. 

"There were times where his presence spread far out pass the borders of the Great Forest of Jura. Why he decided to remain unknown or not announce himself as a Demon Lord goes beyond our wonders, but we chose to remain silent and ignore the matter, letting him do as he pleased since it seemed it would not conflict with our standings." Kaede said as Mai was left speechless from this matter.

"Wait! I get that you've approved of this man, but I havent' approved of him yet!" The young princess argued with a bashful look on her face as her mother looked at her with a peculiar and wondering gaze while the princess turned to Benimaru. "True, he does seem to be stronger than me...But still, I don't want him to marry me because you forced him to. I want him to fallin love with me!" She admitted her intent of winning over Benimaru as that was not the response he was expecting. 

"H-How maidenly...!" Mai gasped with her hands over her mouth and supportive tears spilling from her eyes as her antenna's twitched back and forth.

"A good woman is one who makes the man she loves look her way! That's what you always say, right?" Momiji got to her feet and scurried off and out of the room to begin preparations for such a task while Albis looked conflicted about the whole thing.

"Ahhhh...! That's right! Albis-sama has a thing for Benimaru! What is this?! A love triangle?! Exciting! Exciting!" Mai thought squeefully while fidgeting around where she sat as the formal meeting came to a close with all of Tempest's requests being met.

Later that afternoon, it was time for Benimaru and his two friends to bid farewell to the Tengu village for now to report back to Tempest about the success of their mission. Benimaru and the two girls stood outside of Kaede's home as she stood at the entrance with two guards for assistance and wanted to see them off personally.

"I'm afraid I can't give an immediate answer. Please allow me to return home and consider your proposal." Benimaru said as Kaede looked very accepting of this response as she smiled.

"Yes, do take your time thinking it over. She is still but fifteen years old, after all. For the time being, I would like the relationship between Demon Lord Rimuru and the Tengu to be a favorable one. Despite how I may appear, all that remains for me is to await death." Kaede said with an accepting smile as the three of them were unsure how to react to such sad information.

"Kaede-sama..." Mai muttered with a sad look in her eye as the leader of the Tengu turned towards her.

"May I ask the name of the other Lord you all follow so loyally under?" Kaede asked.

"Lord Y/N. Demon Lord Y/N." Mai answered as Kaede nodded.

"Mai-san, please send my regards and kindness to him, as well." Kaede said with a warm smile as Mai bowed her head low.

"Yes, ma'am! I promise!" Mai said as their time in the village came to an end and they went off to return home.

"I didn't realize Elder Kaede was so gravely ill. She certainly didn't look like it." Albis said while the three of them walked along the trail towards the exit of their village as the sunset shined down through their separate space.

"I don't think it's an illness." Benimaru said as Albis and Mai were confused by what he meant. "She carried Momiji within her womb for a long time, and gave most of her strength to her. She gave birth to her fifteen years ago, and named her. After all that, she probably lost all the magicules that earned her the title 'God of the Mountain'." Benimaru surmised as this was a better analysis of Kaede's situation.

"I see..." Albis muttered as the three of them entered the haze at the end of the village and exited the separate space that isolated the Tengu, but Mai stopped for a moment at the edge of the barrier as she turned back to the village and marveled at it's beauty.

"...Kaede-sama." Mai clasped her hands together and lowered her head as she began to pray for the Elder Tengu leader as her antenna's glowed dimly and from one of her wings, a small Moth made of light flew out unbeknownst to her and flew away into the direction of Kaede's home. "May you only be at peace until your final day." Mai muttered before turning around and disappearing into the haze as she finished her business at the Tengu village.

Flashback Over, Audience Meeting With the Tengu Clan

"My Lord..." Mai spoke to you with a gentle pleading tone through her thoughts as she stepped over and next to you.

"Don't worry." You responded with your own thoughts as you gave her a gentle smile. "We'll make sure not to let her or her mother down." You said to reassure your cute subordinate as she just smiled and stepped slightly closer to you while Momiji approached Rimuru closer.

"I'm Rimuru, and I just became a Demon Lord. I'm generally a pacifist, so if you ever have any problems, you can come to me." Rimuru said with a welcoming and kind tone, but the look on the girl's face remained stoic and firm.

"Such consideration is unnecessary. I expect you to be recognized as a ruler of this forest and become a good neighbor to us. But we will not allow you to interfere in our affairs." The Tengu envoy responded as this had already become quite an intense audience for the day.

"Oh, boy..." Gabiru muttered in awkwardness.

"Quite the tongue. She and her clan clearly don't mince their words when they speak." You thought in intrigue before looking to your right and noticing Shion looked ready to blow a gasket and attack the girl as she held it all back with a strained smile. "Uh oh..." You thought nervously.

"Whoa! Don't! Seriously, don't!" Rimuru thought in fear as he prayed for Shion to keep her cool, with his prayers being answered as she took a deep breath and calmed down moments after and slumped her shoulders. "Whew. Shion's learned to restrain herself. Looks kinda creepy, though..." Rimuru thought before turning his slime body back towards the girl and noticing she had her hand closed in a fist and was trembling. "She looks like she's just barely holding herself back, too. Once an inexperienced leader is underestimated, they're done for." Rimuru thought as he remembered some of these mannerisms from yours and his old world.

"The feeling is understandable. I remember my team having no faith in me when I had a deal fall through under my supervision. It took months before I regained their trust..." You thought as you remembered your subordinates and co-workers giving you ominous stares back at the office of your old work.

"All right. You've made your stance clear. Just to make sure, do you also recognize the High Orcs who've already migrated to the mountains?" Rimuru asked her as she remained as stoic as she could, but a small bead of sweat remained on her face.

"Yes, that's not a problem. We make no claim on the right to utilize the mountain's blessings, and they're free to do as they please with any ore they find. We simply detest interference. That's all." Momiji said as Rimuru was a little confused now by her.

"What is she so wary of, then?" Rimuru thought in wonder. "You know, we really have no intention of starting a fight with you." Rimuru said to try and reassure her.

"You're telling me to believe that?" Momiji said with skepticism.

"Yeah. Is there some reason you think we have territorial ambitions?" Rimuru asked as Momiji's brow furrowed.

"You and your people are friendly with that cunning bird woman, Frey. That's the only proof we need that you want our territory." Momiji explained their clan's reserved stance.

"Time out!" Rimuru suddenly exclaimed once he heard her reasonings as she was confused by this.

"What does that mean?" Momiji said in confusion.

"It means give me a minute to consult with my aides!" Rimuru said as you walked over and picked him up before you all briefly scurried away to the side, leaving Momiji and her escorts confused while you all crouched down together and spoke in low tones. "So...what do you think?" Rimuru asked for input from anyone in the circle.

"Former Demon Lord Frey's domain is connected to the Kusha Mountains. It would not be surprising if there was some sort of friction between her and the Tengu." Souei gave some input as to why the Tengu would have problems with Frey, and thus Tempest.

"That's true. It's possible she invaded them." Rimuru surmised.

"For what purpose, though?" Benimaru said in confusion, which everyone was trying to figure out as well.

"Lady Frey prefers high places. Perhaps that's why she wanted the Tengu's home base?" Geld suggested one reason that the Sky Queen would possibly invade the Tengu for.

"Huh? Would she really do such a thing for such something as simple as living in a high place?" You said in wonder.

"Their hidden village is in another dimension anyway, isn't it?" Rimuru asked as Benimaru nodded.

"Yes." Benimaru confirmed as all of you hummed in wonder and confusion, which became audible as Momiji was losing patience.

"Excuse me! Would you stop ignoring me?!" Momiji yelled out in frustration as you all glanced back to her at the same time in wonder of her sudden outburst. "I'm saying Demon Lord Frey was after the Sorcerous Dynasty of Thalion! She was planning to take command over us as a foothold toward that!" Momiji explained as this was quite surprising to hear.

"Huh? Why would Frey-san want Thalion?" Rimuru asked in wonder of Thalion's involvement.

"Because Thalion is home to a city in the sky, up in a giant tree. As the Sky Queen, Frey was desperate to take it as a base." Momiji explained as your brow was raised with surprise.

"Then Geld was right and it really was that simple?" You said as you all looked to Geld who had a small smirk form on his face as you all went back to position and you placed Rimuru on his pedestal. "What's Frey-san up to now?" Rimuru asked Geld.

"Well, Lady Frey was terribly pleased with your plans for the new capital city." Geld informed him of the behavior Frey was displaying during his trip to Milim's domain.

"I see. So she's probably lost all interest in Thalion and the Tengu village." Rimuru assumed as Geld was in agreement to that notion.

"I believe so." Geld said as Rimuru turned back to Momiji.

"Well, there you have it. Now do you understand that you were mistaken?" Rimuru asked as Momiji was in disbelief of all this.

"I can't believe I was under the wrong impression all along..." Momiji muttered as she so overtaken by shock, she collapsed to her knees with her ears drooping down.

"Lady Momiji..." Mai walked up to Momiji as the young girl looked up her while Mai extended her hand out with a kind smile. "Don't worry. We don't think any less of you." She said with a reassuring tone as Momiji couldn't help but smile from the warm feeling Mai was giving her.

With that whole misunderstanding finally cleared up, the discussion between the Tengu clan and Tempest came to an end and an agreement to help one another during times of need was made with signatures from both sides. With everything formal out of the way, there was now a chance to breath for both sides and relax a little.

"Okay, I think we're done here." Rimuru let out a small sigh.

"Yes." One of Momiji's escorts agreed while holding the signed agreement papers in his hand. "We're grateful to you for making this negotiation favorable for us." He said as all the escorts of Momiji were much more relaxed and looked welcoming to your people. "Also, this is from our leader, Elder Kaede. A letter for His Majesty Rimuru." The escort said while pulling out a letter from his inner pocket and presenting it to Shuna as she respectfully accepted before opening it up and pulling out two papers, one stacked on top of the other as she was about to read it aloud.

"Greetings. I hope the pleasant spring weather brings you further good health and prosperity. Now, that's enough preamble. I am delighted to hear that you are alive and well." Shuna recited from the letter as both you and Rimuru were confused by the wording so far.

"Huh? Did she think he was dead? What does that mean?" You thought in wonder while your brow was raised and the other noticed that this letter meant for Rimuru sounded strange.

"I cannot come to see you, as I am confined to my sickbed, so I have sent my daughter instead. It seems she has complicated things with her misunderstanding, but I request that you treat her favorably." Shuna continued to recite the letter as Mai walked over and the Oni Princess scooched enough for Mai to read as well.

"Wait, is this letter really for me? It's clearly not, right?!" Rimuru thought as Mai was the next to continue.

"Also, she boasted that she would make Sir Benimaru look her way, so he...Hwueh?!?!" Mai recited before her face suddenly exploded with blush as Benimaru and Momiji were now confused and shocked by the way this letter was going.

"W-Wait, Mother?!" Momiji lunged forward with a mortified blush as she snatched the papers from Mai and Shuna's hands and shuffled them back and forth to realize there were letters addressed to different people. "I knew it! There are two letters! You're way too careless, Mother..." Momiji was about to die of embarrassment as she collapsed to her knees once more in a mortified manner as her escorts knelt down to try and aid her, though it was very awkward.

"Ah, so she put the letter for Hakurou in the same envelope as the one for me." Rimuru thought as while Momiji's escorts were tending to her, the Tengu princess caught a glance of you and noticed you were biting your lip while trying not to laugh.

"P-Pfft...!" You snapped your head to the side so you could spit out a chuckle, but there was no hiding it as Momiji's face turned red and she glared at you.

"D-Don't laugh!!!" Momiji yelled as she was about to attack you.

"W-Wait! Wait! Wait!" Rimuru panicked while jumping between you and her as Momiji's escorts struggled to hold her back.

"HmHm. How very like her." Someone spoke up from behind Momiji as everyone looked over to see the Wise Oni Elder himself, Hakurou, had appeared and returned to Tempest.

"Hakurou!" Rimuru said in surprise as Hakurou stood at the top of the steps with an amused smile on his face.

"I have just returned from the Kingdom of Falmuth." Hakurou said as he approached Momiji and bent downwards as he took the letter from her while stared up at the old man in confusion while he read the letter with a smile and stroked his beard while doing so. "I see. 'Her strength, if nothing else, is great, but her skills are still lacking. As my senior disciple, and as her father, Hakurou the Sword Savant, teach, guide, and train her. To my beloved husband, from Kaede.' I see..." He finished reading the letter as he seemed surprised, but enthralled by Kaede's letter. "So that silly woman still loves me, does she? And she wants me to meet my daughter? HmHmHm...I'm glad I lived so long." He said with a glad tone as Momiji stood up and faced him.

"Y-You are...my father?" Momiji asked nervously.

"That's right. I am your fahter, Hakurou." Hakurou introduced himself to her with a kind smile as tears welled in Momiji's eyes and she couldn't hold back her feelings.

"F-Father!" Momiji cried out as she leaped into the arms of her father for the first time in her life as Hakurou accepted her with his entire being.

"Momiji, my training is quite harsh." Hakurou warned in a teasing manner.

"Okay!" Momiji acknowledged as she smiled through her tears and pulled away a little from the hug.

"But I expect you to overcome it and win our young master's heart." Hakurou said with serious and believing gaze as the two of them turned their heads to Benimaru.

"I will!" Momiji responded with sureness.

"What?!" Everyone gasped in shock.

"PFFT!!!" You and Honda both spat out another laugh and fell to your knees wheezing while Benimaru glared at you two from the side for a moment in annoyance.

"You two...!" Benimaru thought in frustration of your reactions before turning back to Hakurou. "Hey, Hakurou! Wait a minute! I have my own position to consider here--!" Benimaru was about to oppose to all of this, but Hakurou was not having it, not even from the one he served previously.

"What's this? You don't like my daughter, Young Master?" Hakurou asked in an intense tone.

"That's not what I'm saying! You never even knew she'd been born! Why the doting daddy act now?!" Benimaru asked in confusion of Hakurou's sudden change.

"Now that I know about her, I'm responsible for her." Hakurou said as he was now determined to pick up the father act for Momiji's sake.

"Where is all this going?" Rimuru thought in confusion.

"N-Not good...I'm gonna laugh my lunch back up at this rate...!" You wheezed while leaning against Honda as he struggled to contain himself as well.

"Goodness, you two..." Mai sighed in exasperation as Lilia just shrugged awkwardly.

"Oh, so that's why..." Shuna suddenly came to a revelation as everyone turned towards her. "Brother, I have a message from Lady Albis." Shuna informed him.

"Wh-What is it?" Benimaru asked cautiously as Shuna cleared her throat to recite the message in a tone similar to Albis, but just a moment before, Iris had descended to hear what was going on since the patrol was finished and nothing turned up.

"Benimaru-senpai, I've finished..." Iris's words fell off as she heard Shuna speak up.

"Sir Benimaru, I have made up my mind. I intend to triumph over Miss Momiji and win the role of your legal wife. Or, in worst case, I can always be your concubine. I will not give up, so prepare yourself." Shuna finished reciting the message as Iris was frozen in her tracks in shock.

"W-WHAT...?!" Iris gasped in shock as she collapsed to her knees in despair.

"Benimaru, you gonna be okay?" Rimuru asked as all you boys looked to the Red Oni, and within moments of being asked that question...

"H-He's dead!" Rimuru thought in shock.

"AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAAA!!!!" You and Honda erupted with laughter while hunching over in pain from your stomachs tightening and slapping your knees in amusement.

"Who knew Sir Benimaru had such a weakness?" Geld said in surprise of how helpless the Great Benimaru looked right now.

"Boy, it sure is tough to be loved by all the ladies." Rimuru said as you wiped away a tear and finished laughing.

"Well, too much of a good thing can't be all good for you." You chuckled as you finally managed to calm down.

"Great Rimuru, Y/N-dono, are you being serious? I don't think you two are in any place to say that." Gobta said in conflict of you two as you were both confused by what he meant.

"Huh?" You and Rimuru hummed in confusion, unaware that Shuna, Shion, Mai, Lilia, and even Diablo were staring at you two with loving smiles.

"Kuhuhuhu." Diable chuckled as you and Rimuru glanced back at him. "I only have eyes for Great Rimuru and my other Lord. I have no interest in romance." Diablo said as if to clarify his stance, which was strange since no one asked, while also keeping the fact that you were the other leader a secret.

"Uh, no one asked you." You and Rimuru both said in unison.

"Indeed, Sir Benimaru is quite the popular man. One of my sister's subordinates had her eye on him, too, but she'll have a tough time getting past Miss Momiji and Lady Albis." Gabiru revealed as Iris was shocked upon hearing this.

"You mean Toka? No, it's not just Toka. There's Saika, as well." Souei included in his usual cool tone as Iris snapped her head towards him in despair while listening.

"That's right! I heard the two of them gave up on you out of respect for Soka." Gabiru heard as Souei seemed uninterested for the most part.

"Don't be ridiculous." Souei disregarded his claim.

"No, it's the truth!" Gabiru said while trying confirm this finding.

"So it's a harem?!" Gobta said as he was excited about this topic.

"Indeed." Gabiru confirmed to him as you had to take a moment to think about Benimaru's ordeal.

"Now that I think about, the ladies after Benimaru all have their own personality that fits the harem trope. Albis the pretty and reliable older sister. Momiji the bratty but cute little sister. Then there's Toka, Saika, Gobwa...Huh? He actually does have a harem! The only thing he's missing would be the cool on the outside, but actually vulnerable and timid on the inside type of..." Your words trailed off as your eyes slowly gazed over to see Iris as she slowly inched forward, but hesistated while looking at Benimaru. "...girl." Your words fell silent as the final piece of the puzzle was right in front of your eyes.

"Senpai is...getting married...?" Iris collapsed to her knees in despair as she hung her head low and turned pale.

"I-I-I-IRIS?! GET A HOLD OF YOURSELF!!" Lilia panicked while smacking the back of Iris to try and get her to wake back up as you and Mai watched awkwardly.

"A harem! How very enviable!" Gabiru said with a vexxed and jealous tone.

"Hmph. Not really. He may not look it, but Benimaru is a late bloomer. Dealing with women is not his forte. He always tries to be the tough guy, but I'll bet he's utterly bewildered." Souei gave his analysis of Benimaru and his inexperience with women.

"Given how manly Sir Benimaru is, it's only natural that ladies of the town would admire him. There is much I could learn from him." Geld said with hopes of picking up some pointers from the Red Oni himself.

"No, no, you're fine just as you are! As I was saying earlier, Toka and Saika won't even look at me..." Gabiru trailed off as he continued his earlier topic with the boys while his buddies watched him closely as they concealed themselves with little branches of bush to attempt to hide.

"Sir Gabiru's back looks so strong and manly!" Yashichi said in astonishment.

"Indeed! He is a man among men!" Kakushin agreed as the three of them turned to cheer on their leader.

"We'll always follow you, General!" Skellow chanted out as the three of them began chanting Gabiru's name in loyalty and support.

"Ahahaha!" Gabiru gave them and smile and wave before turning back to the boys and sighing in exasperation as his shoulders slumped. "For some reason, all of my admiring subordinates are men." He said with a hint of sadness, for no female has yet to admire him as so.

"It just means you never get to meet anyone new. I can understand how that feels." Geld said sympathetically as it was similiar for him and his Orcs.

"Oh, no. There are lady dwarf doctors where I work." Gabriu wanted to point out and correct that statement a little.

"Then you should have no problems!" Geld said in confusion as you and Rimuru were both equally confused.

"What are they even talking about?" Rimuru and you both thought the same thing.

"I have many problems, actually. They always say, 'I can't be with a lizard! It's just physically impossible!' is what they all say." Gabiru said as he slumped forward again in defeat.

"I see..." Geld said as he felt a bit bad now for what he said earlier.

"That species wall is a lofty one..." You and Rimuru thought sympathetically for Gabiru.

"And yet Nanso and Hokuso invite them out for dinner or dates in the forest all the time! I just can't stand it!" Gabiru revealed as some of the Lizardmen that evolved into humanoid types were being asked out by the girls in mention.

"The species wall is gone!" You and Rimuru were shocked by the double standards.

"I-I don't know what to say about that..." Geld now became awkward about Gabiru's situation.

"Nonsense. You simply don't make any moves yourself." Souei said as you and Rimuru were slowly getting absorbed in this conversation now as you and him inched closer and closer.

"Souei-kun, bingo!" You and Rimuru were sharing a wavelength at this point.

"Yeah, Souei's right!" Gobta said in agreement with the Blue Oni.

"Besides, women are much easier to sway than you might think." Souei said such a shocking and bold statement that no one thought could come from his cool and laxed mouth.

"Wh-What did you say?!" Gabiru gasped in shock as the your female comrades looked at him closely and with intent to see what he would say next.

"Like that lady knight we met this last time." Souei said in reference to Litus of the Ten Great Saints, who previously visited Tempest earlier with Hinata and the other members of the Western Holy Church.

"What, what?! What's this about?!" Gobta asked rapidly with excitement as the boys were gathering around the cool and composed Souei who had his arms crossed like it was no big topic.

"This is deeply intriguing!" Gabiru exclaimed.

"Details!" Geld was now losing his usual self as he begged for specifics.

"Details!" You and Rimuru exclaimed while you held him over your head and moved closer to the boys.

"Ahem!" Two voices interrupted the Boys talk as Shuna gently snatched Rimuru away from your hands and Mai assisted you in turning back around to everyone else.

"Great Rimuru, Y/N-dono, enough joking. We're talking about my brother right now." Shuna said in reminder of the real topic at hand, while also concealing the fact you were the other ruler of this nation even though they knew it was co-ruled, but had no clue it as you.

"Right..." You and Rimuru said with embarrassed tones for letting such a conversation change the mood of this ceremony.

"Hey, Benimaru, what are your real feelings about this whole thing? This is a lot to just dump on you, so you should let us all know how you're feeling." You said as you gave him free reign to speak as he wished as the Red Oni scratched his head awkwardly.

"Well...Honestly, I feel it's too soon to make such a decision, but I can say this: I only need one spouse." Benimaru declared with certainty as Momiji smiled excitedly at the sound of that.

"I guess that means no harem, then." Rimuru said as Momiji ran up with determination.

"Understood! I'll accept Albis's challenge and win the role of your wife!" Momiji exclaimed as Benimaru flinched at the mention of such a thing.

"Shuna..." Benimaru had no where else to look but his sister for some form of advice.

"Great Rimuru, what shall we do?" Shuna asked him in turn.

"I mean, why not? I can't let them have an actual one-on-one duel, but just making an effort to get the one they love to look their way..." Rimuru trailed off as Shuna understood clearly.

"Understood! then is shall be done!" Shuna said with glee as you two picked up on a different tone in her voice that worried you.

"Wait, what? I have a bad feeling..." Rimuru thought as Shion and Lilia suddenly stepped in front of you two with confident and determined smiles as the two of them stared down Shuna and Mai behind you both.

"I won't lose, Princess Shuna." Shion declared to her fellow Oni sister.

"That's exactly what I want, Shion." Shuna said with no sense of worry in her tone.

"Shishishishi! Prepare yourself, Mai! Your cuteness won't save you this time!" Lilia said with a cheeky grin as Mai giggled behind her hand.

"Ahahaha, that attitude is exactly what puts a smile on everyone's faces. I just hope you can keep it up until the end." Mai said with a hint of yandere in her tone as you and Rimuru were unnerved by the cold smile she was displaying.

"M-Momiji-sama!" Iris suddenly spoke up as the Tengu princess turned towards her in confusion. "I am...Iris! I have been under Senpai's tutelage ever since I arrived here and have admired him more and more ever since then. As the one who is his only second in strength, I request a challenge against both you and Albis, as well!" Iris said with a cool tone, but it didn't help that her face was dark red with embarrassment as she straight up revealed her feelings of fondness to Benimaru.

"Huuuuuhh?!?!?!" Benimaru couldn't handle any of it anymore as he fell backwards and passed out on the stage.

"Oho? Momiji, this is a good oportunity. My dear daughter versus my strongest student of today. Don't lose heart against either of them!" Hakurou said as Momiji strutted towards Iris to stand face to face.

"Yes, father!" Momiji exclaimed as she and Iris stared down one another as you and Rimuru had no clue what this ceremony had devolved into.

"I don't know what's going on, but I think we should..." Rimuru trailed off as he bounced out of his little royal attire and into your arms. "...run!" Rimuru yelled as you bolted off the stage as the ending of the Audience Ceremony became the birthplace of a strange new custom for Tempest, in which one strives to make the one they love look their way, called 'Love and Battle'.